MSc, 1 year full time/2 years part time
Subject overview
In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 100 per cent of our economics research was rated as internationally recognised or higher, and 60 per cent rated as internationally excellent or higher.
Economics at Sussex offers postgraduate-level teaching and research in applied economics.
Our faculty are engaged in research across a range of applied areas, including international economics, development, labour, macroeconomics, social policy and climate change.
While much of our research is policy oriented, and therefore responsive to external events (such as European economic integration and the economic crisis), the highest importance is attached to basing applied work on sound theoretical foundations, as well as using best-practice quantitative techniques in estimating and testing models.
Our focus on applied economics should be interpreted broadly, to include work on developing the applicability of theory and numerical modelling, as well as the analysis of empirical questions.
Members of faculty have attracted project funding from the Ford Foundation, the ESRC, the Nuffield Foundation, the Department for International Development, the Department of Trade and Industry, the European Commission, and the Commonwealth Secretariat.
Specialist facilities
The University has an excellent library and widely available computing facilities. In addition, graduate students have access to specialist software such as STATA.
Interdisciplinary research conducted at Sussex is often of particular significance to economics students. There is close academic collaboration between specialist centres and the relevant departments at Sussex.
Academic activities
Economics faculty organise regular seminars at which external speakers present papers, faculty report on current activities, and research students present their thesis proposals. Seminars also provide a forum for discussing results when a thesis is close to completion.
Programme outline
This MSc provides you with the skills and knowledge in development issues to become a successful, policy-oriented economist in government, international organisations or at universities.
You learn how to deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, and be able to show originality in tackling problems. You explore how to assess policy and work with policy-makers. You develop qualities needed for employment as an economist such as sound judgement, personal responsibility and taking the initiative in difficult and unpredictable professional environments.
All of our MSc degrees are recognised by the ESRC under its 1+3 scheme.
All of our MSc degrees have ‘internship’ variants. These allow you to take a three-month ‘internship break’ for an approved purpose such as a placement in an international organisation or a research assistant post in a university. The registration period for the MSc is then lengthened by three months. If you are interested in the MSc with an internship, you should apply for the standard MSc as described below, and may be transferred to the MSc with an internship after starting the standard MSc. Also visit the Department of Economics.
We continue to develop and update our modules for 2013 entry to ensure you have the best student experience. In addition to the course structure below, you may find it helpful to refer to the 2012 modules tab.
The degree comprises four two-term modules – Development Economics • Econometric Methods • Economic Analysis • Practical Economics – and a dissertation.
Assessment
You are assessed by unseen written examinations, presentations, a term paper, and a dissertation of 15,000 words.
Current modules
Please note that these are the core modules and options (subject to availability) for students starting in the academic year 2012.
Analytical Methods in Economics
15 credits
Autumn teaching, year 1
This module starts to equip you with the tools for economic and econometric analysis necessary for economics at Masters level. It comprises sections on basic mathematical and statistical methods, and the use of appropriate computer packages (currently Stata).
Development Economics 1
15 credits
Autumn teaching, year 1
This module focuses on three linked topics: the measurement, profile and reduction of poverty; the institutional and technical bases for economic development in agriculture and the rural sector; and the role and workings of factor markets.
Development Economics 2
15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1
This module concerns growth, trade and macroeconomic issues for developing countries, including financial repression, foreign exchange controls, dual labour markets, structural adjustment, stabilisation and external debt. It also considers the growth and equity impact of macroeconomic adjustment modules and trade policy options.
Econometric Methods 1
15 credits
Autumn teaching, year 1
This module covers the basic techniques of modern econometrics, making use of applied studies to illustrate the material, particularly from the fields of development and international economics. You are also introduced to the analysis of data sets using the Stata software package, and the interpretation of the resulting output. The module's emphasis is on the appropriate application of econometrics to practical problems arising in economics.
Econometric Methods 2
15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1
This module is devoted in part to further topics in econometrics, including maximum likelihood techniques, qualitative response models, models with limited dependent variables, and panel-data estimation.
Economic Analysis 1
15 credits
Autumn teaching, year 1
The module covers the theory underlying a variety of topics and its application in policy analysis and empirical work. Topics covered include: decision making under uncertainty, asymmetric information, oligopoly, efficiency and productivity measurement, and externalities and public goods.
Economic Analysis 2
15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1
This module is oriented towards the design of macroeconomic policy in open economies in the short and medium term. Among the topics covered are concepts of equilibrium unemployment, causes and consequences of real and nominal wage rigidity, rational expectations in models with and without market clearing, and nominal income versus inflation targeting.
Research Methods for Economics
15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1
This module equips you with practical econometric tools for analysis, information about economic data sources and their limitations, an understanding of how research and analysis policy fit into the policy making process, and how to communicate with policy makers and other users of analysis.
Entry requirements
UK entrance requirements
A first- or upper second-class undergraduate honours degree in economics.
Overseas entrance requirements
Please refer to column A on the Overseas qualifications.
If you have any questions about your qualifications after consulting our overseas
qualifications table, contact the University.
E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk
Visas and immigration
Find out more about Visas and immigration.
English language requirements
IELTS 7.0, with not less than 6.5 in each section. Internet TOEFL with 95 overall, with at least 22 in Listening, 23 in Reading, 23 in Speaking and 24 in Writing.
For more information, refer to English language requirements.
For more information about the admissions process at Sussex
For pre-application enquiries:
Student Recruitment Services
T +44 (0)1273 876787
E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk
For post-application enquiries:
Postgraduate Admissions,
University of Sussex,
Sussex House, Falmer,
Brighton BN1 9RH, UK
T +44 (0)1273 877773
F +44 (0)1273 678545
E pg.applicants@sussex.ac.uk
Related programmes
Fees and funding
Fees
Home UK/EU students: £5,6001
Channel Island and Isle of Man students: £5,6002
Overseas students: £13,5003
1
The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
2
The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
3
The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
To find out about your fee status, living expenses and other costs, visit further financial information.
Funding
The funding sources listed below are for the subject area you are viewing and may not apply to all degrees listed within it. Please check the description of the individual funding source to make sure it is relevant to your chosen degree.
To find out more about funding and part-time work, visit further financial information.
Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust for Postgraduate Study (2013)
Region: UK
Level: PG (taught), PG (research)
Application deadline: 1 October 2013
The Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust are offering bursaries to Postgraduate students following any postgraduate degree courses in any subject.
Sussex Graduate Scholarship (2013)
Region: UK, Europe (Non UK), International (Non UK/EU)
Level: PG (taught)
Application deadline: 16 August 2013
Open to final year Sussex students who graduate with a 1st or 2:1 degree and who are offered a F/T place on an eligible Masters course in 2013.
Faculty interests
The range of faculty research activities is illustrated below. More information is available at the Department of Economics.
Mike Barrow Public-sector economics, local government, efficiency and value for money.
Dr Sambit Bhattacharyya Development economics, political economy, economic history.
Dr Ingo Borchert International trade and trade policy.
Professor Richard Dickens Labour economics, poverty, inequality, minimum wages.
Professor Peter Dolton Applied econometrics, labour economics, economics of education.
Rob Eastwood Demographic change and economic development.
Dr Sonja Fagernas Development economics.
Dr Michael Gasiorek International economics, economics of integration, 20th-century economic history.
Dr Torfinn Harding International trade and investment, development, applied econometrics.
Dr Peter Holmes International and European integration, World Trade Organization law, trade and climate change.
Dr Iftikhar Hussain Labour, economics of education, development.
Professor Michael Lipton Poverty, farm size and technology, demographics, undernutrition.
Dr Julie Litchfield Poverty, inequality and income distribution.
Dr Paolo Masella Economics and culture, political economy, development, labour.
Professor Andy McKay Chronic poverty in developing countries.
Dr Alex Moradi Development economics, African economic history.
Andrew Newell Labour and historical economics, poverty, nutrition, demographic change.
Dr Panu Pelkonen Economics of education, labour economics.
Dr Dimitra Petropoulou International trade, industrial organisation, political economy.
Professor Barry Reilly Applied econometrics.
Dr Pedro Rosa Dias Economic inequality, health, education, development.
Dr Paul Segal Global poverty and inequality, economics of resource-rich countries.
Dr Shqiponja Telhaj Economics of education.
Professor Richard Tol Economics of energy, environment and climate.
Professor L Alan Winters International trade, migration, international development.
Careers and profiles
Our graduates have gone on to careers in government, finance, academia and international organisations such as the World Bank. Recent examples of career destinations include HM Treasury, Deutsche Bank and Deloitte. Our graduates also have a good record of success in winning Overseas Development Institute Fellowships.
Dina's student perspective
‘The Masters in Development Economics at Sussex was recommended to me by my professors during my undergraduate degree at the American University in Cairo.
‘My MSc allowed me to focus on specific areas of interest to me in development economics, and enabled me to gain the necessary tools that serve this discipline. Learning the theory (but, crucially, applying the theory) and undertaking my own research, were both key to gaining work in the field.
‘Upon graduation I was able to join an international institution as a researcher, applying what I had learned at Sussex. I also joined the American University in Cairo as an instructor, where I used the knowledge gained during my Masters to teach the next generation of students. I’m now preparing to begin doctoral study at the University of Sussex, which feels like a natural progression from the education I received here during my Masters degree.’
Dina Abdel Fattah
MA in Development Economics
For more information, visit Careers and alumni.
School and contacts
School of Business, Management and Economics
The School of School of Business, Management and Economics is a unique, research-focused business school, which takes a strong policy-directed view on business practices while also developing the underlying core disciplines.
School of Business, Management and Economics,
Department of Economics, Jubilee Building,
University of Sussex, Falmer,
Brighton BN1 9SL, UK
T +44 (0)1273 872717
E pgbmec@sussex.ac.uk
Department of Economics
Discover Postgraduate Study information sessions
You’re welcome to attend one of our Discover Postgraduate Study information sessions. These are held in the spring and summer terms and enable you to find out more about postgraduate study and the opportunities Sussex has to offer.
Visit Discover Postgraduate study to book your place.
Other ways to visit Sussex
We run weekly guided campus tours every Wednesday afternoon, year round. Book a place online at Visit us and Open Days.
You are also welcome to visit the University independently without any pre-arrangement.